Hans Wegner Shell Chair
View Similar Items
Hans Wegner Shell Chair
About the Item
- Creator:Carl Hansen & Søn (Manufacturer),Hans J. Wegner (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 29 in (73.66 cm)Width: 36 in (91.44 cm)Depth: 32.5 in (82.55 cm)Seat Height: 14 in (35.56 cm)
- Style:Scandinavian Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:2022
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Like New!!
- Seller Location:Philadelphia, PA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU843033569802
Hans J. Wegner
Best known for his chairs and seating pieces — though a master of many furniture types like sofas and tables — Hans Wegner was a prolific designer whose elegant, often ebullient, forms and devotion to the finest methods in joinery made "Danish Modern" a popular byword for stylish, well-made furniture in the mid-20th century.
Wegner considered himself a carpenter first and a furniture designer second. Like his peers Arne Jacobsen and Finn Juhl, Wegner believed that striking aesthetics in furniture were based on a foundation of practicality: a chair must be comfortable and sturdy before it is chic.
In keeping with that tenet, several of Wegner’s best chair designs, seen in dealer listings below, have their roots in traditional seating forms. The Peacock chair (designed in 1947) is a throne-like adaptation of the Windsor chair; pieces from the China chair series (begun in 1944) as well as the 1949 Wishbone chair, with its distinctive Y-shaped back splat, are derived from 17th-century Ming seating pieces, as is the upholstered Ox chair (1960). Wegner’s comfy Papa Bear chair (1951) is an almost surreally re-scaled English wingback chair.
Wegner’s most representative piece, the Round chair (1949), gained a footnote in political history when it was used on the TV stage of the first Kennedy-Nixon debate of 1960. That chair, along with Wegner’s more bravura designs, for example the 1963 Shell chair, with its curved surfboard-shaped seat, bring a quietly sculptural presence to a room. Wegner was a designer who revered his primary material — wood — and it shows. His wood gathers patina and character with age; every Hans Wegner piece testifies to the life it has led.
Carl Hansen & Søn
Family-owned since its inception, Carl Hansen & Søn has been one of the most prestigious furniture manufacturers in Denmark for more than a century. The firm has produced timeless masterpieces of Scandinavian modernism by iconic designers Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, Børge Mogensen and others.
In 1908, cabinetmaker Carl Hansen opened his first small workshop near Odense, Denmark, where he created furniture by hand in the preferred Victorian style of the times. Hansen expanded his operations by 1915 due to high demand. The larger factory allowed room for more modern machinery and a staff of many journeymen who produced a small series of their most popular pieces, including coffee tables, cabinets and sculptural, inviting armchairs. The firm became known for marrying the finest handmade craftsmanship with efficient production processes.
The Great Depression of the 1930s saw worldwide furniture sales plummet, and many furniture manufacturers were forced to shutter their workshops. At the age of 23, furniture maker Carl Hansen’s youngest son, Holger, took control of his father’s factory and piloted it through the era’s uncertain waters.
Holger Hansen’s youthful enthusiasm, innovative spirit, and intuitive business savvy kept their company afloat. He believed in the quality of the firm’s work and the cutting-edge designs that were produced at its factory, which emerged from modest beginnings to become a pivotal piece of the history of Danish furniture.
Owing to Holger’s leadership, Carl Hansen & Søn emerged from the Great Depression and entered into creative alliances with many acclaimed Danish masters of mid-century design, including Kaare Klint, Børge Mogensen, Arne Jacobsen, Ole Wanscher, Frits Henningsen and Poul Kjærholm.
None of these partnerships proved as prolific as their relationship with Hans Wegner, however. In 1949, the cabinetmaker moved to Denmark’s Funen Island and was staying in Holger’s family home, as the then-Carl Hansen CEO had commissioned Wegner to create a chair for the company that was similar to his popular China chair of 1944.
Wegner began to work closely with the company’s craftsmen and devised a streamlined chair with a Y-shaped back and woven paper-cord seat. The legendary Wishbone chair, which still involves nearly 100 processes and takes weeks to make, has been in continuous production since its 1950 debut.
Carl Hansen & Søn has manufactured some of the most extraordinary chairs, sofas and lounge chairs for living room relaxation in the history of design. Their dining room tables and chairs run the gamut in style and functionality, from everyday comfort to elegant entertaining. The company’s impressive roster of contemporary designers includes renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the Vienna-based design firm EOOS and celebrated American industrial designer Brad Ascalon. They remain the world’s largest producer of Wegner’s furniture and still enjoy a collaborative relationship with the Hans J. Wegner Studio.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Carl Hansen & Søn chairs, tables, case pieces and other furniture.
- Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen CH468 Oculus Lounge ChairBy Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Philadelphia, PAHans Wegner for Carl Hansen CH468 Oculus Lounge Chair in like new Condition! Was used in a show house basically for a photo shoot. Very clean condition in a gray fabric. Stainless...Category
2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Hans Wegner for GETAMA High Back Oak Lounge Chair and Ottoman Model GE290By GETAMA, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Philadelphia, PAHans Wegner for Getama High Back Oak Lounge Chair and Ottoman. Beautiful Wood in Original Condition. Upholstery is newly done in a Knoll Fabric. All original wire coil springs rewrap...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBrass
- George Thams for A. S. Vejen Leather and Chrome Danish Lounge Chair and OttomanBy Georg Thams, Vejen PolstermøbelfabrikLocated in Philadelphia, PAGeorge Thams for A. S. Vejen Leather and Chrome Lounge Chair and Ottoman. Ottoman measures 21.5 square and 17" tall. This is one of the most comfortable...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Hans Wegner GE-240 GETAMA SofaBy GETAMA, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Philadelphia, PAHans Wegner for GETAMA GE-240 3 seat sofa. Oak body with teak arms. Redone about 13 years ago but retaining it's original inner coil springs. Looks like arms were refinished at some...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Oak, Teak
- Finn Juhl NV-45 Teak Armchair for Niels VodderBy Niels Vodder, Finn JuhlLocated in Philadelphia, PAFinn Juhl all original NV45 armchair. Black leather with it's original black suede seat cushion. Often said the most beautiful chair ever designed and probably Juhl's masterpiece! Ch...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Teak
- Hans J. Wegner Pair of Cabinets for Ry MoblerBy Hans J. WegnerLocated in Philadelphia, PABeautiful Pair of Hans Wegner Designed Cabinets for Ry Mobler of Denmark. Teak with Oak Runners and interior of Birch. Beautifully crafted with subtle detailing throughout. Can be...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Cabinets
MaterialsBrass
$6,895 / set
- Shell Chair by Hans J. WegnerBy Hans J. WegnerLocated in Sagaponack, NYA laminated orange lacquered "shell" lounge chair with upholstered seat and back.Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood
- Iconic 20th Century Hans Wegner Lacquer and Leather Shell ChairBy Carl Hansen & Søn, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Houston, TXIconic 20th century Hans Wegner cream lacquer and leather shell chair. This stunning Hans Wegner designed shell lounge chair manufactured by Carl H...Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Danish Mid-Century Modern Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hansen CH07 Shell Chair a PairBy Hans J. Wegner, Carl Hansen & SønLocated in Secaucus, NJThe elegant CH07 shell chair is comfortable and well-designed it is considered one of Hans J. Wegner's most iconic and groundbreaking designs. Its wing-like seat and elegant curved backrest and three arched legs make it an attractive beautiful piece that instantly catches the eye from all sides and angels. Please note the price listed is for a pair "two chairs" Specification: Upholstered seat and back cushions in white leather Shell and legs are made of wood, pressed veneer, plywood with lacquer finish, color off White Model: CH07 shell chair, also called the smiling chair...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood, Plywood
- Hans Wegner Peacock ChairsBy Hans J. WegnerLocated in West Palm Beach, FLA beautiful set of chairs. Purchased together from Knoll in the 1960s. Branded signature.Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Chairs
MaterialsAsh
- Hans Wegner Peacock ChairBy Johannes Hansen, Hans J. WegnerLocated in Fort Lauderdale, FLA mid-century modern PP550 ‘Peacock’ chair designed by Hans Wegner in 1947 for Johannes Hansen. Modeled after a traditional American Windsor chair, Hans Wegner’s Peacock chair strips the form to reveal its construction while retaining aesthetic, decorative impact. The chair reveals a modernist approach to designing around the human body and using natural materials, with one exception. The “rush” seat is actually made of paper cord: when the chair was first designed in 1947, shortages caused by World War II prevented Wegner from using jute. Fellow designer Finn Juhl gave the nickname of ‘Peacock,’ seeing the chair’s flattened spindles and magnificent arc resembling the bird’s plumage. Dimensions: 41 3/4 in. H × 27 1/2 in. W × 20 1/2 in. D Seat: 22 1/2 in. x 19 3/4 in. x 12 in. at back Floor to top of seat: 14 in. Top of seat to arm rest: 10 1/8 in. Seat to top head rest: 31 3/4 in. Condition: Excellent, with some minor wear throughout. Gap between arm and chair back measuring approximately 1/4 inch. Some light water staining on both arms. Wood split to one seat joint measuring 3/8 and 5/8 inches on either side. Four deeper scratches on back. Area of staining on bottom chair rung measuring 2 3/4 inches long. Chair back’s fifth spindle from right with wood chip measuring 1 inch long. Chair back’s sixth spindle from left loose. Literature: 40 years of Danish furniture design: 1947-1956, ed. Grete Jalk, vol. 3 (Copenhagen: Lindhardt og Ringhof, 1987), pp. 15-17. Arne Karlsen...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsPapercord, Ash, Teak
- Hans Wegner Peacock ChairBy Hans J. Wegner, Johannes HansenLocated in Fort Lauderdale, FLA PP550 ‘Peacock’ chair designed by Hans Wegner in 1947 for Johannes Hansen. Modeled after a traditional American Windsor chair, Hans Wegner’s Peacock chair strips the form to reveal its construction while retaining aesthetic, decorative impact. The chair reveals a modernist approach to designing around the human body and using natural materials, with one exception. The “rush” seat is actually made of paper cord: when the chair was first designed in 1947, shortages caused by World War II prevented Wegner from using jute. Fellow designer Finn Juhl gave the nickname of ‘Peacock,’ seeing the chair’s flattened spindles and magnificent arc resembling the bird’s plumage. Dimensions: 41 3/4 in. H × 27 1/2 in. W × 20 1/2 in. D Seat: 22 1/2 in. x 19 3/4 in. x 12 in. at back Floor to top of seat: 14 in. Top of seat to arm rest: 10 1/8 in. Seat to top head rest: 31 3/4 in. Condition: Excellent, with some minor wear throughout. Wood splits to three of the seat joints measuring 1 inch, 1/2 and 1/4 inch on either side, and 1/4 inch. Area of discoloration to arm, possibly from sticker, measuring approximately 3/4 inch. Some nicks to side of one arm. On the other arm, a scratch measuring 1 1/8 inches on the side. Literature: 40 years of Danish furniture design: 1947-1956, ed. Grete Jalk, vol. 3 (Copenhagen: Lindhardt og Ringhof, 1987), pp. 15-17. Arne Karlsen, Danish Furniture Design: in the 20th Century, vol. 2 (Copenhagen: Christian Ejlers, 2007), p. 90. Christian Holmsted Olesen, Wegner: Just One Good Chair (Germany, Hatje Cantz Verlag GmbH & Company KG, 2014). Johan Møller Nielson, Wegner en Dansk Møbelkunstner (Copenhagen: Gyldendal, 1965), pp. 42, 98, 103, 106. Noritsugu Oda, Danish Chairs (San Francisco: Chronicle Books), 1996, pp. 106, 107. Svend Erik Møller and Viggo Sten Møller...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsPapercord, Ash, Teak
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Design Icon Ilse Crawford on Her Colorful New Hans Wegner Chairs
If anyone is brave, humble and adept enough to recolor these mid-century masterpieces, it’s Ilse Crawford. Here, she gives us the details on her five earthy paint choices and tells us how she feels about design collaborations.